Eyeballs-on PumpTop TV

We're still not quite sure whether to file Westinghouse Digital's PumpTop TV network under "because there were a few square inches of advertising-free modern life left" or "because Western civilization demands the right to watch TV absolutely anywhere," but either way we thought it fitting to remind our US readers that these things will start becoming more ubiquitous in major cities this year. The technology isn't new but, much like bell-bottoms, seems to keep coming back unexpectedly despite antipathy from the sane.

Gallery: Eyeballs-on PumpTop TV

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[Chris.L @ Jan 9th 2008 4:58PM]

Sigh?

This kinda encourages people to get a vehicle with the largest gas tank they can find...just so they can watch some tv while they're feeding their beast.

[Joel Rose @ Jan 9th 2008 4:59PM]

Quite a few of the Gas stations near me put these in last year. I typically turn and look away from them while I'm pumping.

[NNTPgrip @ Jan 9th 2008 5:04PM]

So I pay out the ass for fuel, I already put up with annoying audio ads blasted though the pump intercom down at WaWa, Now Video?

They had better put one hell of a protective screen on that LCD, because a quick sneaky tap with my tire iron will take care of it real quick.


"If you are in advertising or marketing, kill yourself" - Bill Hicks

[Andrew @ Jan 9th 2008 5:42PM]

The station where I fuel up next to my work (Riverside, CA) has these. I'm bothered that even during the time it takes me to pump 10 gallons, I'm already seeing repeats.

I'd be happy to watch the news and a couple adverts while I pump, but you'd think they could have more than 5 minutes of unique content.

[Elliott @ Jan 9th 2008 7:15PM]

Yeah, don't really see this as news...almost every Chevron and Shell have these already in Southern California.

...bastards

[Organic_Shadow @ Jan 9th 2008 5:04PM]

I'm afraid of sparks + explosion + facial burns that make it look like goatse.

[Guillermo @ Jan 9th 2008 5:09PM]

these are already all over the place in LA. it reminds me of back to the future. you get out of the car and some newscaster is giving you the weather and the latest sports scores. the weirdest part is having each pump's speakers echo themselves. its hard for me to look away.

[Aaron Wanker @ Jan 9th 2008 5:20PM]

I can confirm this, they do make you look like goatse... and they also hurt

[Harvey @ Jan 9th 2008 5:09PM]

Along with waiting for some lady to figure out how to select the right grade of petro and pay, now I have to wait for some guy to watch headline news?

[T-Bone @ Jan 9th 2008 5:18PM]

I'll be fine as long as I can change the channel or put it on mute.

[andrew wilson @ Jan 9th 2008 5:20PM]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hVpvwCXfgJs

[Chad @ Jan 9th 2008 5:43PM]

That's great.

[BowserUSC @ Jan 9th 2008 7:09PM]

I was gonna mention this as well. So hilarious.

[Tom @ Jan 9th 2008 5:21PM]

they put these in a while ago where i am. there is a few ads but it's usually showing you clips from the local news & weather forcasts.

[James @ Jan 9th 2008 5:30PM]

There's a couple stations around my area that have these things. They're nothing more than a big annoyance... another fine example of marketers taking advantage of a "captive audience" and spraying them with even more adverts for useless junk.

[Robert @ Jan 9th 2008 5:32PM]

I noticed one of these at my Local BP in Northern Virginia (woodbridge area) It cuaght me off guard a little...

[decypher44 @ Jan 9th 2008 5:37PM]

There are a lot of these in my neck of the woods (OC, CA). They are damn annoying. I can only take so many clips of Jay Leno and the weather.

[Gar @ Jan 9th 2008 6:02PM]

I refuse to go to gas stations that have these now. It's not something I want to see in this world. I've got all kinds of phones that play videos, get me weather updates etc. These are small personal electronics. I don't need a gas pump spaming the whole station when I get gas.

[fuma @ Jan 9th 2008 5:57PM]

The reality is that the station owners want you to be distracted while you are pumping... so you'll go past the $20 mark or whatever you told yourself you were going to put in, and suddenly you are topped off with a full tank.

[BowserUSC @ Jan 9th 2008 7:10PM]

Cause think of all the gas you are waisting by filling your tank a dollar or two more.

[fuma @ Jan 9th 2008 7:19PM]

yea, thats a brilliant statement... no wonder oil is hitting $100 barrel.


I've been a public commuter/bike rider for 11 years. Last time I bought gas it was $1.20 ish

[Jon Doe @ Jan 9th 2008 6:03PM]

Well on the bright side for those running a Cadillac Earth Fucker they can sit back and watch an entire episode of the Simpsons while they fill'er up.

[aoeu00 @ Jan 9th 2008 6:10PM]

WTH? More "IN YOUR FACE MAGGOT!!" advertising? Seriously!

My local Walmarts already started putting LCDs in the check-out lines. Stupid advertisers.

[Michael Marquez @ Jan 9th 2008 6:11PM]

I'm thankful for the delinquent teen street gangs in my area that will keep these scratched,tagged and broken so we can keep this kind filth out of my neighborhood!

[Michael Marquez @ Jan 9th 2008 6:11PM]

I'm thankful for the delinquent teen street gangs in my area that will keep these scratched,tagged and broken so we can keep this kind of filth out of my neighborhood!

[Brownjohn @ Jan 9th 2008 6:13PM]

we've had this on a few Shell stations out here in orange county, CA for a while now. I think its been close to a year. I now refuse to use those Shell stations.

[sk8rpro @ Jan 9th 2008 6:16PM]

Great, just what we need. There's already been problems with wait time for other people to finish. Now, we have something else to slow the lines even more.

[CB @ Jan 9th 2008 6:26PM]

I have this at my local gas station. Aaargh! It's awful. Please, leave me alone when I am pumping gas. Who needs this? It's all about advertising and subsidizing gas stations.

[farnarkle @ Jan 9th 2008 6:37PM]

Ay! Bell-bottoms aren't that bad. They might be an eyesore to some, but at least they don't cause brain pollution.

[BigD145 @ Jan 9th 2008 6:56PM]

Ah! Kill it with fire!! /boom

[Jorun @ Jan 9th 2008 7:14PM]

wonder if you could hook a Wii up to that and play Chicken Shoot with the "gasoline gun"

[Kyle @ Jan 9th 2008 10:37PM]

They have these on the pumps by my school. They can be a bit annoying but they are nice in the fact that they have the local news cued to start playing as soon as you start pumping. Usually it just has the weather and then an advertisement for whats going to be on the news that night. Not so bad.

[Judas @ Jan 9th 2008 10:37PM]

so...i wonder what happens if one of these tvs break and sparks go flying...boom.

[Ed @ Jan 10th 2008 3:53AM]

I live in Las Vegas and they are ALL over the place. Interestingly though, they are also all turned off.

If they do bother to turn it on, it won't make any difference to me. I pump my gas, lock my car, and go into the store to buy a drink.

[Ed @ Jan 10th 2008 3:53AM]

I live in Las Vegas and they are ALL over the place. Interestingly though, they are also all turned off.

If they do bother to turn it on, it won't make any difference to me. I pump my gas, lock my car, and go into the store to buy a drink.

[Ben @ Jan 10th 2008 11:36PM]

Somebody's been watching too much Jay Leno... http://youtube.com/watch?v=z2CLGsrk6-c&feature=related